Eric Braeden's Restless Career

CHATTER

March 10, 1996

QUESTION: Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) on The Young and the Restless (12:30 p.m. weekdays on WCPX-Channel 6) was on The Rat Patrol many years ago, but his name was Hans Gutinhein, or something like that. Why was he not known as Eric Braeden? Did he change his name and is he really German? K.N., Winter Garden.

ANSWER: Yes, Eric Braeden began life as Hans Gudegast. He came to the United States from Germany in 1959 to study at Montana State University, where he made a student documentary about a boat trip in Idaho. While searching for a distributor in California, he discovered Hollywood was looking for German actors, and he appeared in several films, including Morituri and Escape from the Planet of the Apes. He was also Capt. Dietrich in The Rat Patrol from 1966-68. After the series ended, he landed a role in the science-fiction film Colossus: The Forbin Project, and the studio persuaded him to shorten his name. He chose Eric, a family name, and Braeden, a German village where he grew up. Besides his acting, Braeden is an athlete and co-founder of the German-American Cultural Society.

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Q: I love MacGyver (various times, USA Network) and am trying to tape all episodes! Where can I can get a list of the episode titles so I can mark off the ones I have? M.H., Apopka.

A: You can find a list of all 139 episodes - including airdates, writers, directors, cast, plot synopsis and even ratings - at http://falcon.cc.ukans.edu/(tilde)mlkel/macgyver on the Internet. In the address above, replace (tilde) with a character found in the upper left of most computer keyboards. You can also write to the keeper of the MacGyver Homepage, Melissa Kelley, at P.O. Box 393, Lawrence, Kansas 66044-0393.

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Q: I have a movie idea for Steven Spielberg. Where can I write to him? B.J., Orlando.

A: I might have scoffed at such a request until recently hearing that producers of Star Trek: Voyager have bought scripts from waiters and a postal carrier. Spielberg is at P.O. Box 6190, Malibu, Calif. 90264. And I want an invitation to the premiere.

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Q: I've been watching Walker, Texas Ranger (10 p.m. Saturdays on WCPX-Channel 6) and know that I have seen Clarence Gilyard (James Trivette) on another show. Which one? C.R., Winter Park.

A: He was Conrad McMasters, Andy Griffith's investigator for five seasons on Matlock.

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Q: I'm 14 and like most girls I have a major crush on Devon Sawa. (He's just so cute!) I'm a great pen pal and would love to write to him. Can you tell me where I can reach him? C.K., Palm Bay.

A: The 17-year-old Canadian has set many young hearts a-racing with his appearances in the TV movies Lonesome Dove, Robin of Locksley and Night of the Twisters. Write to him in care of his U.S. agents, Innovative Artists, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, Calif. 90067.